Grip for pliers



A118' 29, 195,0 R. J. MILLER 2,520,808

GRIP FOR PLIERs Filed Deo. 11, 1948 INVENTOR. Kozr zl /fl/LLe/ Patente ug. 29,

. UNITED STATESl PATENT OFFICE p GRIP FOR PLIERS Robert J.Mi11er, Franklin, ra. I Application December 11, 1948, Serial No. 64,779

, v 1 i ThisV invention relates to' a dielectric grip for electrician's or lineman's pliers and for the handles of other tools, especially those used in connection with lo-wand, particularly, high-tension work.

One important object of the invention is to provide a handle-grip or cover which will aiford an improved and firmer hand grasp. The handles of pliers as universally made taper considerably towards their distal ends (for reasons based mainly on production requirements). Yet it will be observed that it is this distal portion of= the plier handles which is grasped in the handle. Hand grips as heretofore marketed are made of substantially uniform thickness, so that the combined thickness of the tool handle together with its cover or grip still continues to diminish towards its distal ends. The improved hand-grip of this invention, on the other hand, is not made of uniform wall thickness. Nor is its outer shape tapered towards its distal end (as in a known prior art disclosure) On the contrary, the outer dimensions of the improved grip are Constant.

throughout its entire length. As a result of its constant outer dimensions, the improved grip presents a portion to be grpped by the hand which is of uniform dimension. Additionally, the improved plier grip is of overall dimensions (i. e., in width and thickness) which are very appreciably greater than the uniform-wall thick- 'o'ut its length. More particularly; the inner bore decreases in cross-sectional area towards the distal end of the grips; The diminishment of crosssectional area of the inner bore is in conformity with the decrease in dimension 'of the plier handle in the sameV direction. Accordingly, the improved grip may be readily attached to the plier handles.

Closely allied with this object is the third important object of the invention, viz., to provide a dielectric grip which will be more firmly secured on the plier handles. This is achieved by making the improved grip of a rigid material which in being attached onto the plier handle is deformed forcibly to the shape or configuration of the han- 1c1aim. (01.16-1'18) 2 dle. I have found that this, and vother.v results, may be achieved by making the improvedV grip of a plastic material.

Stepping at this point to recount the provisions of the first three objects of the invention thus far pointed out, it will be seen that the improved grip `takesthe form of a plastic (rigid) shell having constant outer dimensions but an inner 'bore which increases in cross-sectional area towards its distal end, and that the tapered plier handle is inserted in Vthe inner bore. The plastic 'shell is forced onto. the plier handle by impact with a mallet or by' knocking the end of the grip on a hard surface. The plastic grip is thus forced'to deform itself to the configuration of the plier handle, and to bind itself thereto in unyieldng securement. w

Incidentally, this provides a facile manner of 'attaching the improved hand grip tothe plier handle, which should be noted as an additional achievement of the second enumerated object, viz., ready attachment. Also, the Character of the plastic'material, which presents a solid hard surface, affords a firmer hand grip` which factor shouldibe noted together with the others men- `tioned above relative to the first object, viz., firmer hand grip. V

. Additionally, the use'ofthe plastic material enables surface deformations to, be provided which furnishes ideal vhand gripping properties, as will be more fully described.

.To continue with other objects, the fourth re- -lates to the greater dielectric strength of the improved plier grip (which is capable of withstanding 30,000 volts as compared with the 1,200 volts vofz dielectric grips as heretofore made). This object is achieved chiefiy because of these factors: ,The (plastic) 'material of which the improved hand grip is made; the increased over-,all thicknessof the improved hand grip as'comparedV with those heretofore marketed. Additionally, it will beV noted that the thickness of the shell constituting the improved deviceincreases towards the distal end of the grip, so that at the distal portion thereof where it is grasped, the improved device presents the greatest dielectric value.

The fifth principal object is the' increased strength of the improved grip which results not only from the (plastic) material used, and also from the increasing dimension of the shell wall towards its distal end. That end of the grip terminates in a rounded portion of increased thickness. The thickened end of the improved dielectric grips enters into consideration of the second object above, viz., the manner of attaching the 3 grip to plier handles, by accepting without ill effects either the impacts of a mallet in forcing the grip on the hand1e or the impacts of that end, against a hard blow-receiving surface. Inciden- Vtally, the increase of plastic material here assures I have shown a preferred embodiment ofmy in-A 'vention in the acoompanying drawing., wherein;

Fig. 1 is a front view of an improved di'e'lectric grip of the invention; v 1

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1; 4 'i Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken near the openfe'nd of the improved grip, on the line 3-;3 of Fi'gfl'; i I 'i Fig. 4 is a similar cross'sectional vview but taken ;'s'flbs'tantiallyV atV the Vmiddle point 'of the 'igrippo the line r4----ll of Fig. 1.; I

5 is a third cross-isectional view 'but taken near the distal 'end of vthe grip, on the line '5-`5 'of'Figl- 'and 1' Fig; 6 is a 'front View o f a pair of 'pliers with the improYed-dieleetric igri-ps 'attached thereto, one

ofthe :grips' being showninfsectio'n. i

' ti'hasla'lready'been explained iii the'statement of invention that the improved fgrip visv made 'f 'apiastic materiallfor the special reasoiis menabove); I have *found ideally ls'uitecl ffor 'these purposes, a plastic'material made url-der the trade-mark Tenite-2 and comprisingmixed heimis ef "a'tate end baw-rate.

f The improved plastic grip is of ou'ter bral sliapfe, ascl'early see-'n in Figs. '3-5, and its' `vo'u't'er dinirisions Vare iconstafit' thronghout the *length finale particnlarly, major 'di-mensin E''FiLgS'. 3,5an 1) and-the minor'difm'eision {-0 '(fsl'ig's. 3, a) an's'jz)v are cfistant througm'ut the length of Vthe fg'rip. The Walls 'of 'the Shell-;generally 'desi'gnate 'il-;are 'of'apireciabl thiel'- nss, so that the outer dimensioris-HL'ZL-are cofnsideralele (as, and' 'for the'reasohs, 'set'oiit'i'n the forg/orfg stateme-ritiof invention). f i v ""I'hinner bor'e '8, Figi. 2, iiireaes infcros'-se`ctional area from the 'closed-*end Tf l'the 'gri-ptowards the open'ed '6' thereof, 'so that'the inner boretapers :towards 'the vdist'al-*endz :('ezndf''of theipner hanar, as 'describe'd in'the for'egmg statement. A comparison of Figs. -1 vano.` V2,: and better, 'Figs 3, 4, 5, will 'reveal that'this areal iiicrea'se'bfz' theiinner bore is lin'the minor axis `10A ('Fig. 4.). and'not lin the lmajor 'ax'is (20A, Fig. 3), andieiilts from 'an increase in thicknes's' of'fthe tlifio` walls ti, Il in' Fig. lfcn-'either sidejof .the major 'ais 28A, which 'increase progressively, lffa, ztiafFig. 4;) and '|`l'lJ.,|-lb '(Fig; -5) "towards the distal 'end (Fig'. 5i) i-of the grip. i

. 'On the other hand, thetwowalls 2ii-, 21|, Fig. 94, on either 'side'of the minor axis IB'A, are 4ofiini'- form thickness, 'compared with Walls'v 52A, Ma, Zib; ysee alsoFig. 2. iCAs a matter of-Jfact,'lthe walls'lhi do? thick'en slightly towards the distal end I.. Fig. 2, exaggeratedly. shown 'in 'that flis i,

figure; the purpose of this is to permit withdrawal of the core in molding the plastic Shell.)

It will be observed, from Fig. 3, that the major walls 21,'2I and minor Walls II, Il are substantially of the same thickness. The reason for .this is to present a substantially um'formly thick Wall to initial force onto the end of the plier handle, to ease attachment of the improved grip and to avoid initial strains,

f 'Qne 'of the, hroaderfmajor) sides of the improved grip is provided with 'a knurled or other gripping surface 22, Fig. 1, which is on the outer Side of the pliers, as indicated in Fig. 6.

, As best seen in Fig. 2, the open end of the grip Shell is cut on a bias to present a planar surface 23, 'in the direction of the major axis, but angnlarlyinclined toward the longitudinal axis or length of thergrip. The purpose of this inclin 'or biased end 23, see now Fig. 6, is that When the improved dielectric grip is driven on lplier handle, as. in Pig. 6, more protection or eoverage is provided 'on the outside l'of the handle, as farfup towards the .pivotal point as possible, .yet allowing 'pli'erzfto 'close (because. of the absence of material on the inner facing surfaees near the :'pivot). Henceless metal is exposed, thuisaliding greater lSafety against the danger of `vshock.

I claim: v

A'dielectric grip to be driven-Gilera plie-r handl'e 4compriising, an elongated vshell of molderl and hardened,'resi1ient, insulating material, said shell having an `louter surface' 'which is 'oval cross section, a closed end, aniif'an open end, 'the length ofV the shall between closed and open ends constituting 'a gripping -portion, Vthe major and minor'aXes-of the oyal'outer surface'of said grippo'rtion being both u'zliform thronglioiit its length, said she'l'ihaling'fan Oval 'inner Vpore de- `-f.'1.'e'as'ir'ig Viii -eross'sectional varea towards 'said voloi-id end, to fprvidefa shel wall Vof :var'y'ing Vtiiekness whosefithilekness inereases towardthe cioseol fend,-'said fshellwall *adjacent v'either "end of the majbr axis of the boreprogressiveiy' in- I w' w 'Ward' closed end,'and j er endof the minor :axis of ithebore progressivel increasingfi'n thickriess ia thefs'me clirjetiohV pust a 'much greaterdboth saidl major and 'minorshelliwarls being of equal thiolnes's 'atftheo'pen'end of the Shell; whereby a pfier 'handljelmay' `'ce partial'ly inserted intos'aid' shelfb'o're and the' 'driven by'sharp hlowsfi'againstftlie cl'o'rsedfend'of'the, shel'l'ito a position'wth the handle; ``fully inserted 'while de' foriningl thejshel'l to conformz to' the Shape 'of'the handleltherehy securelyi'fastening the 'grip' there- 01'1 v v "REJFERENCES l(ri'rim I ,The'ifollqwirigj references'are of record-in 'the file of' 'this Pil ,tz 

